Yakov’s Vodka Recipe – Easy Sugar Wash

I’ve put together an easy vodka recipe that anyone starting out can make. This is one of the first recipes I started with when learning to make moonshine and is by far the easiest. All the ingredients can be purchased from your grocery store. Details are below have fun and be safe.

Ingredients:

7 kg White Sugar

200 g Yeast Nutrients

1 Pack Turbo Yeast

Clearing agent ( Optional)

Materials

23 L Fermenter ( I use Carboy should be food grade)

Large stainless steel stirring spoon

Digital Thermometer

Instructions

Clean and sterilize fermenter with bleach, be sure to rinse well after

Add 8 – 10 L of hot water into 23 L fermenter

Measure out 7 kg of sugar and slowly add to fermenter while using spoon to stir in sugar

Once sugar is dissolved top up fermenter with cool water to bring temperature to between 23 – 30 degrees C

Add Nutrients and Yeast and let stand for 1 hour

After 1 hour Stir in Yeast and let stand for 24 hours

After 24 hours stir well to aerate sugar wash ( This aeration allows for increased yeast reproduction as yeast will reproduce until there is no more oxygen at this point they will begin to create alcohol).

Fermentation will complete within 4 -8 days. Check fermentation by either measuring specific gravity, or by tasting for left over sugars.

Distilling

Because you are making vodka which is flavourless a reflux still should be used. I’ve written a post about how to distill using a reflux still that will guide you through the process.

Notes:

This recipe should make approximately 7 L of vodka moonshine at 40 % abv.

Flavouring

Don’t stop with just making homemade vodka now that you have this base spirit you can flavour it with so many spices, herbs and fruits. Including maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and chillies. Check out our home made baileys recipe for a great gift idea.

Check out this home made vodka flavoured with fresh strawberries and kiwi fruit

Don’t stop there you can also infuse your moonshine with fresh fruit like strawberries and kiwis which will impress just about anyone you serve it to. Check out our recipe guide for details.

I’ve used a few different Turbo Yeast in the past but like Alcotec Turbo Pure 48 it’s a great all-round superyeast for home makers of moonshine spirit. It will ferment 6 kg of white sugar in a 25 L solution in 48 hours assuming you maintain proper conditions. You can buy it at Amazon.com/Alcotec-Turbo-Pure-48